when to add grit

With starter feed, some grit is needed. Just sprinkle some grit on the floor and the chicks will decide for themselves if they need it or not. I would imagine they would need some with feeding oats.

 

Try putting a pan of dirt in the brooder. It will act as a dirt bath and give them some small gravel they can use as grit. I generally add some wood ash and wood shavings to the pan I put in.

 

With different flocks I do different things. Sometimes I mix grit in with feed at all times for the first week, then give it free choice. Sometimes I don't give grit until I start giving solid treats. Sometimes I just provide a pan of dirt, other times I mix a little grit in with the dirt. Now that you're feeding oatmeal, I'd offer them some sort of grit free choice, whether it is granite, sand, or dirt.

 

Grit is only needed if/when the birds are eating whole grains. If you're feeding processed pellets or crumble you don't need it. If the birds are ranging they will find their own little pebbles and sand/small rocks to serve as grit typically.

Is the oatmeal you're feeding cracked, rolled, whole? Unless it's whole oats you most likely won't need grit.

Full disclosure, even if it's not technically needed I will often provide a bed of sand (or even brood the entire batch of chicks on sand) as a precaution, I have noticed anecdotally that there's less poo butts when I do this, but I very rarely have that issue on a good feed anyway.